The story was discovered two years ago by publisher Jo Hanks who spotted a reference to the manuscript in an out-of-print biography about the best-selling children's writer.

The book referred to a letter Ms Potter had written to her publisher in 1914, talking about a new story concerning "a well-behaved prime black Kitty cat, who leads rather a double life".

Beatrix Potter, who died in 1943, wrote and illustrated 28 books altogether but Quentin Blake, the illustrator behind Roald Dahl's well-loved stories, will provide the drawings for the new story.

Sir Quentin said: "It seemed almost incredible when, early in 2015, I was sent the manuscript of a story by Beatrix Potter, one which had lain unpublished for 100 years and which, with the exception of a single drawing, she had never illustrated."

He went on to say he liked the story instantly and added: "I have a strange feeling that it might have been waiting for me."

Image Caption:Quentin Blake provides the illustrations for the new book

Ms Hanks, who works for Penguin Random House, said Sir Quentin was the perfect artist to illustrate the book because he "understands what makes a story engaging for children and adults, just as Potter did".

Potter's first children's book was The Tale Of Peter Rabbit, based on a real rabbit named Peter Piper.

The book, published in 1902 by publisher Frederick Warne & Co, was an instant success.